Congressman Takes Aim at Tax-Free Bonds for Abortions

Congress will consider whether to stop the use of federal tax-exempt bonds to finance construction of abortion clinics. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican from North Carolina, introduced the bill on Wednesday.

The need for this bill became apparent in recent years, as states, counties and cities issued federally tax-free infrastructure bonds for the purpose of building abortion clinics.

For example, in 2012, New York City issued a tax-free, $15 million bond for renovation of Planned Parenthood’s national headquarters. Planned Parenthood has also been the beneficiary of tax-free bonds for clinics in Florida, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Rep. Pittenger, in a speech on the House floor this week, explained how a well-intended program is being leveraged by Planned Parenthood.

“These tax-free bonds are intended to finance schools, hospitals and infrastructure, not abortion clinics,” he said. “This legislation applies the spirit of the Hyde Amendment to the tax code, by preventing tax-free bonds from going to abortion providers.”

Pittenger’s bill already has early momentum, as a bipartisan group of more than 50 congressmen have joined in as co-sponsors.

Family Policy Alliance and 36 of our state allies signed on in support of the No Abortion Bonds Act this week.

“We are grateful for Rep. Pittenger’s leadership in advancing legislation that prioritizes the value of human life, life-affirming investments in women’s health, and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Autumn Leva, Director of Public Policy and Communications at Family Policy Alliance. “Planned Parenthood is a billion-dollar organization. In a time of massive federal deficits, reasonable people on both sides of the abortion debate should be able to agree that subsidizing this abortion giant is not a national priority.”